2001 - Getting started in racing:
2001 was little more than a toe in the water exercise to see if I could actually cut the mustard as a racer. Having progressed to the fast group of track days over a period of 4 years, I was wondering how big a step it would be to go racing. In terms of riding fast, my view is that it’s not that big a step. However, in terms of riding fast with lots of other people around you it’s a big leap, and in terms of commitment, it’s an even bigger leap!
Early in 2001 I part exchanged my old Kawasaki ZX9R for a brand new ZX6R-J1 with a view to going racing. The ZX6 was a much better track bike anyway, and not much worse as a road bike. In fact, I went to the South of France and back on it over Easter 2001 with my mates Keith and Steve and I cannot think of a better bike to tour on!
For 2001 the bike was pretty much standard apart from a full Akrapovic race system and a jet kit. I did raise the rear 10mm on the shock mount to quicken the steering, but the standard shock stayed for the time being, as did the standard handlebars and switch gear. I fitted solid billet foot pegs on to the standard hangers, stuck on some race bodywork and hey presto...a race bike was born.
2001 was little more than a toe in the water exercise to see if I could actually cut the mustard as a racer. Having progressed to the fast group of track days over a period of 4 years, I was wondering how big a step it would be to go racing. In terms of riding fast, my view is that it’s not that big a step. However, in terms of riding fast with lots of other people around you it’s a big leap, and in terms of commitment, it’s an even bigger leap!
Early in 2001 I part exchanged my old Kawasaki ZX9R for a brand new ZX6R-
For 2001 the bike was pretty much standard apart from a full Akrapovic race system and a jet kit. I did raise the rear 10mm on the shock mount to quicken the steering, but the standard shock stayed for the time being, as did the standard handlebars and switch gear. I fitted solid billet foot pegs on to the standard hangers, stuck on some race bodywork and hey presto...a race bike was born.
2001 Season Review:
Having prepared the bike and myself to the best of my limited abilities, I woke up on Monday 24th June 2001 as a motorcycle racer - well sort of! I’d got my licence, I’d got the bike ready and I’d got an entry in the EMRA 600 Roadstocks Championship. The first shock was when my alarm went off at 5.30 AM! Mallory is my “local” circuit but it’s still over an hour away so we made the first of many very early starts. We arrived at Mallory Park to be greeted by an almost full paddock of caravans and camper vans. These boys were serious...and Michele and I rocked up with the bike on a trailer and a gazeebo for shelter! Thankfully, my good friend and ex-racer Keith Masters came along to offer moral support. He’d been there, done it all before and got the (XL) T-Shirt!
Unless you've done it, you can't appreciate how nerve wracking it can be taking a bike through scrutineering for the first time. Keith was convinced they’d fail it - and if he could have got to them first with a few crisp fivers, I’m sure they would have! However the bike passed its first ever test with flying colours....staggering given my limited mechanical skills. Scrutineering was still a pain in the arse though.....and I guess it always will be! You stand there in the cold morning air, half asleep, waiting for someone to take the piss out of your best mechanical endeavours!
After all that, the races were fairly uneventful. Ironically I drew pole for my first ever race! I nearly crapped myself at the thought of fluffing my start so I confessed to the starter that it was my very first racing start. They sensibly let me draw again and I ended up further down the grid where I felt a bit safer. It was the only time I ever drew pole in all the time I raced, and the only time I didn’t want it! I would have killed for pole position the following year!
I competed at each of the last three EMRA meetings of the season, gaining experience and earning signatures! I stayed out of trouble, never crashed, didn’t get lapped and finished the season on a real high when at the last wet race of the year I bagged a 12th in the Novice Roadstocks race with all the classes running together. I was hooked! Oh dear!!
Having prepared the bike and myself to the best of my limited abilities, I woke up on Monday 24th June 2001 as a motorcycle racer -
Unless you've done it, you can't appreciate how nerve wracking it can be taking a bike through scrutineering for the first time. Keith was convinced they’d fail it -
After all that, the races were fairly uneventful. Ironically I drew pole for my first ever race! I nearly crapped myself at the thought of fluffing my start so I confessed to the starter that it was my very first racing start. They sensibly let me draw again and I ended up further down the grid where I felt a bit safer. It was the only time I ever drew pole in all the time I raced, and the only time I didn’t want it! I would have killed for pole position the following year!
I competed at each of the last three EMRA meetings of the season, gaining experience and earning signatures! I stayed out of trouble, never crashed, didn’t get lapped and finished the season on a real high when at the last wet race of the year I bagged a 12th in the Novice Roadstocks race with all the classes running together. I was hooked! Oh dear!!